What is the Future of General Surgery?
General surgery has witnessed several technological breakthroughs in the last decade. This includes the introduction of robotics and the development of artificial intelligence (AI) to help with the surgery. However, what do these technologies mean for the future of general surgery?
Surgical robotics has gained traction in the field of general surgery. It has increased the skill of the surgeon and offers superior tissue handling. However, these devices also carry the risk of complications. Some surgeons are skeptical of robotics, while others find it a vital part of their practice. A successful robotic general surgery program requires training a team of the surgical personnel. Robotics is not limited to the surgical room and is used in other hospital areas. A good example is the use of robotics to treat hernias.
Several research centers have been involved in developing robotic platforms. One example is the da Vinci system, designed by Intuitive Surgical. The da Vinci comprises an ergonomic console unit with a display and endoscopic camera. The system translates the surgeon’s movements into real-time motions inside the body. During the past 30 years, biotechnology has had a remarkable impact on the field of health care. Not only has it revolutionized the way we practice medicine, but it has also affected law, regulation, and the medical field as a whole.
The evolution of the biotechnology industry has gone through four interrelated tracks. The first track examines the scientific and technological innovations that led to the commercialization of biotech products. The second track looks at the impact of biotechnology on law, regulation, and health care. The third track examines the effects of biotechnology on the surgical field. The evolution of the biotechnology industry began in the 1980s. Biotech companies specialized in blood and endocrine disorders during the early years. In the 1990s, biotech products focused on understanding the pathophysiology of human diseases. In the 2000s, biotech products focused on chronic immune disorders.
Using 3D printing in general surgery can be both practical and cost-effective. It can help surgeons reduce surgical costs, improve patient care, and save time in the operating room. It can also facilitate the spatial recognition of essential structures. 3D printing has several surgical applications, from surgical guides to patient-matched anatomical models. Surgical guides help surgeons navigate through the body while operating. On the other hand, anatomical models are a valuable tool for surgical planning, education, and simulation.
Some hospitals have created centralized 3D printing facilities, and the number of hospitals with such facilities has exploded over the past decade. These facilities produce patient-matched anatomical models, surgical guides, and prosthetics. In-hospital 3D printing is still in its early stages but has shown great promise. It’s still too early to tell if it will be a widespread technology, but it may be more prevalent as technology advances.
During your fourth year of surgical residency, you will have the opportunity to experience AI. This exciting new technology promises to transform surgical education, enhance patient care, and improve surgical outcomes. However, the true potential of AI still needs to be discovered. It is difficult for everyday clinicians to grasp. This article provides an overview of the technology and a brief introduction to four core subfields of AI.
The first subfield is the application of AI in surgical video platforms. These technologies enable surgeons to analyze surgical videos according to various parameters. These include video segmentation, time analytics, and critical performance analysis. In addition to these applications, there are a variety of other AI-driven applications that surgeons can use to enhance patient care. The next stage of AI will focus on integrating patient-specific data with clinical decision support. This will allow surgeons to draw on data from population-based datasets to improve clinical decision support for individual cases.
Despite a growing number of female residents and physicians, the surgical field remains male-dominated. Women in surgery face many challenges, including sex discrimination, a lack of research support, and a strained home-life balance. To increase the number of women in general surgery, the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) has developed several programs and initiatives, such as an early-career mentorship program, networking breakfasts, and various grants and awards.
The AWS also has a delegate on the Board of Governors of the American Surgical Association (ACS). Since its inception, AWS has prioritized women surgeons’ advancement. The most impressive surgical innovation is the early-career mentorship program, which pairs prominent women surgeons with rising junior faculty. Other programs have been created to encourage surgeons to network and develop leadership skills.
